Why Did Detente Collapse & Afghanistan Flashcards
1
Q
The Kabul revolution
What happened and when did it happen?
A
1978
- President Taraki came to power and wanted to make a communist style reform programme.
- The Muslim tradition was against it, so he had to fight them.
- He became an ally of the Soviet Union.
2
Q
Why did the soviets attack Afghanistan?
A
- The ussr didn’t trust Amin, he took power from Taraki and made the country very unstable. Because of this, the mujaheddin was formed.
- There was lots of oil.
- Brezhnev believed the US wouldn’t get involved like in Hungary/Czech.
- Worried it could be an Islamic state, from the fighting with muslims.
3
Q
Was the invasion successful?
A
- No for both sides, it lasted 10 years and 1.5 million died.
- The war drained Soviet economy as it was so long.
4
Q
America’s reaction to the invasion - carter doctrine
A
1980
- The USA wouldn’t allow the soviets to gain the oil rich Middle East.
- Alliance with china and Israel, also provided weapons to the mujahideen to fight the soviets.
- Stopped trade with soviets
- Ended detente and didn’t ratify SALT 2.
5
Q
Impacts of detente ending:
A
- Arms race increased, as there were no limitations from SALT2, so the superpowers could make as much weapons as possible.
- Moscow olympics boycott 1980
- LA Olympic boycott 1984
